Ministers, it’s been a great honor and pleasure for me to come back to Sri Lanka, and to see you and to see the formation of this new government and all of the hope and promise that it represents.

In just the short time since I was here last, and in the shorter time that Secretary of State Kerry was here, we have seen steady progress towards the forward-looking agenda that this government has set. And it has been heartening to people all around the world, with the most recent example, of course, of the election. Another promise made that was kept.

What is most important to us is the message that the people of Sri Lanka have sent. Twice now this year the people of Sri Lanka -- North, South, East, and West -- have told us that they support change. Twice now they have voted -- North, South, East, and West -- for the rule of law. Against impunity, for reconciliation, for building this country, developing this country for everyone, and against the politics of ethnic and religious division. Against extremism on both sides. They have set an important challenge for their government and for the international community. They have told us that the promise of this transition now needs to be fulfilled, and what we hear from the government is a recognition that the work, the hard work, must continue to meet their expectations.

We recognize that some of the choices ahead are going to be difficult. We recognize that this process is going to take time. Nobody expects miracles, but we do see an extraordinary opportunity so long as the forward momentum is sustained. We also see in the United States an extraordinary responsibility to support this process so long as the government of Sri Lanka keeps making courageous decisions. The United States will stand by its side and provide the support that is needed to keep this process going forward until Sri Lanka succeeds in every respect in terms of security, economic development, democracy, and playing its rightful role as a respected leader on the world stage. Thank you very much.